Patriots Hosting Ezekiel Elliott on a Visit Saturday, per Report

New England is once again in the mix to land one of the premier running backs remaining on the free agent market.

As the Patriots seek to add running back depth behind starter Rhamondre Stevenson, the franchise will host free agent Ezekiel Elliott on a visit on Saturday in Foxborough, according to NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.

The two-time All-Pro running back was released by the Cowboys prior to the start of free agency after spending the first seven seasons of his career in Dallas. Elliott began ceding time in the backfield to Tony Pollard last season, and as a result rushed for a career-low 876 yards on 3.8 yards per attempt with 12 scores.

Although the 28-year-old may not be in peak form like he once was, he is certainly still a back capable of contributing at a high level. His addition to the fold in New England would be an interesting fit, especially considering Stevenson’s emergence and the expectation that he would have a much bigger role as the lead back with the departure of Damien Harris in free agency.

This is not the first big name that has been in the mix for the Patriots this offseason. New England has also been in on free agent Dalvin Cook, who is one year younger than Elliott and is coming off a 1,173 yard campaign with the Vikings, who recently released the veteran.

The running back market is murky in general at the moment, with teams showing that they’re unwilling to even extend young running backs in their prime with lucrative contracts. This has undoubtedly affected the market of both Elliott and Cook, who are assuredly seeking big money, even on short deals, given their respective track records.